Tig welding custom cut bend pipes

[Vinhtec]

My last post was horrible I think everything went wrong on my welds plus its been almost a year since I welded anything 0_0. I had bad fitment, no back purging and everythning. I got great advice from guys on the forum changed a bunch of stuff worked harder to get the right end results and this is what I got. (Took forever because engineering school is something else)

Fitment was KING in this welding. I cut them clean on a band saw and then sanded the heck out of them. The pipes were so close I didn't even use filler ....... Well my learning curve hasn't got to where I can use filler rod effectively. I having trouble finding it comfortable to move and add at the same time. Probably need more adjustments on my welding table or position.

I listened to guys on the forum and used Solar Fulx type B. I got it on ebay because I wanted a small amount to test and it is BA!!! Sure beats using back purge because the pipes I weld are so small not sure how I would back purge effectively?

Everything else was the same got good heat from 55 amps DC no pulsing or fancy stuff. Well didn't use it because I not sure what to set it to yet.

Oh my welds got some burned dirty stuff because I got supper excited and got started with out grease removal on the pipes. The grease came from lubricating the band saw to cut it. Oh well one more thing to remember when I get good cuts again.

Materiel is 0.65 straight pipe 2.5 inches diameter. Cut on one side 15 degree angle and other is a straight cut. I added them together to make a 90 but the gradation of the bending is not sufficient for me. I want more gradation so I will change the angle to get more bending out of it.

So far its not bad as I welded I figured some stuff out and it got better progressively. Please no bashing me this is only the second pipe I attempted to weld and happy I even was able to get this far !!!! I am going to try harder next time and do better so all my welding looks better. Good welding all my forum people !!!!!

[zoama]

What's this piece used for ?

[Vinhtec]

What's this piece used for ?

Trying to make a down pipe for a homemade turbo set up. Also going to attempt to make a full exhaust. This was really a preliminary test if I could even do anything with this machine ( my second time trying to tig weld ). Trying to save some money by not having to buy mandrel bends since one 180 degree pipe can be like 50+ depending on diameter. I just cut them and bend them myself out of one pipe. Not to terribly concerned with smooth flow since that will increase the cost of this project exponentially. I know it is not the best way to do it nor the easiest way but I am going to try !

[zoama]

Just in case you need some of this stuff... http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...+bends+2+1%2f2

Cutting this one in half would yield two tight radius downpipes for $23 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/IMM-548660/

[jerky]

when your welding stainless you should always use filler. even if you dont need to. the reason being that when you weld stainless, you creat alot of heat in one area, and being stainless, it doesent move that heat very good. SO in your HAZ (heat affected zone) becasue you have such high heats, you can get carbide percipitaion. basically the worse thing to have on stainless. ADDING filler whilst you weld actually decreases the weld puddle temperature thus reducing the chance of CP.

[67cudafb]

Sorry if your looking for bashing you need to go to miller forum. EL members do not bash or be little other members just share there knowledge and try to help each other. I can tell you there is some smart and talanted people here and willing to help and help you be a better welder.

[Vinhtec]

when your welding stainless you should always use filler. even if you dont need to. the reason being that when you weld stainless, you creat alot of heat in one area, and being stainless, it doesent move that heat very good. SO in your HAZ (heat affected zone) becasue you have such high heats, you can get carbide percipitaion. basically the worse thing to have on stainless. ADDING filler whilst you weld actually decreases the weld puddle temperature thus reducing the chance of CP.

Yeah thanks ! I read that feeding wire in helps the temperature stay down a lot when welding stainless. This time was mainly a practice attempt. I am still really slow and cant get good body position to move fluidly. I have a small spool of left over 308L stainless weld wire (or something) from a mig welder I am going to feed that stuff into the weld next time. I read somewhere that the silica in it or something helps keep it cooler. I just need tons more seat time to practice feeding wire and moving. Its also hard since the pipes a curved thing and not flat it makes it harder. Ill keep trying though.

[Vinhtec]

Just in case you need some of this stuff... http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...+bends+2+1%2f2

Cutting this one in half would yield two tight radius downpipes for $23 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/IMM-548660/

Yeah but this was 304 stainless that's why it was expensive I know that the lower end metals like that are cheaper but not good for weather resistance and stuff. Thanks for that Ill save it just in case I ever decided to do any aluminumized steel pipes.